Don't know your local paper?

Clock ticks on reform options

Under the State Government’s model, Canning will lose sections to Victoria Park, Belmont and Melville councils, and may stand to lose even more to Melville than originally thought.

It is presently dealing with South Perth, Victoria Park and merger partner Gosnells to form the proposal for its preferred boundaries that will both satisfy the Government and get the best deal for residents.

Commissioner Linton Reynolds said the City was having weekly discussions with Gosnells to establish an implementation committee and what he hoped would be ‘a shared, agreed position on our eventual boundaries.’

‘A strong spirit of co-operation is evident in our discussions,’ he said.

He said meetings, mostly focused on the Bentley redevelopment, were also progressing with South Perth and Victoria Park, which were set to receive its land north of Leach Highway.

‘No discussions have yet been held with the City of Belmont and Shire of Kalamunda grouping as we are totally opposed to the proposed transfer of the Welshpool industrial estate to them,’ he said.

‘Obviously where we differ from the government’s map, we need to provide a very cogent argument.’

Mr Reynolds said discussions with Melville had not yet begun as Riverton MLA Mike Nahan had indicated he wanted a different boundary from that proposed.

‘In the absence of an agreed boundary with Melville, and based on our understanding that both the MLA for Riverton and the City of Melville are seeking to absorb even more of our district into the ‘greater City of Fremantle’, we are considering all options, including a desire to have our western boundary remain as it is currently,’ he said.

Mr Reynolds said he expected staff would present a position at a public information evening on October 1, to be ratified at a special council meeting on October 2 and delivered to the Government by the October 4 deadline.